Variety of geranium named Claret

ABSTRACT

A new geranium cultivar is distinguished by its form, which is abundantly branched from the base with compact growth. The soft green, relatively abundant and small leaves are well placed, giving the appearance of a dense, vigorous growth. The plant flowers profusely, with the moderately sized red, violet accented flowers arranged just above the foliage in a beautifully arranged bouquet.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPelargonium hortorum which is a zonal geranium known by the varietalname Claret (Oglevee No. 886 and Denholm No. 42023-1). The new varietywas discovered in a selective breeding program by Mr. Blair L. Winnerand is a selection from the selfing of "Glacier Crimson" (U.S. PlantPat. No. 5,057, formerly "Bruni").

The new cultivar was discovered in August of 1982 at Denholm Seeds inLompoc, Calif., was first asexually reproduced by cuttings by DenholmSeeds at Lompoc, Calif., and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced bycuttings at Oglevee Associates, Inc. in Connellsville, Pa. over a 36month period. It has also been trial and field tested at Connellsville,Pa. during the summers of 1983, 1984 and 1985. It has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations.

The new cultivar is more vigorous and lighter in color than "GlacierCrimson."

The new cultivar, when grown in a glass greenhouse in Connellsville, Pa.using full sunlight, 60° F. night temperature, 68° F. day temperatureand 71° F. vent temperature and grown in a soilless media of constantfertilizer of 275-300 parts per million nitrogen and potassium, has aresponse time from a rooted cutting to a flowering plant in a 10 cm potof six weeks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing illustrates the new cultivar, the color beingas true as possible with color illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following detailed descriptions set forth the characteristics of thecultivar. The data which define these characteristics were collectedfrom asexual reproductions carried out by Oglevee Associates, Inc. inConnellsville, Pa. The plant histories were taken on plants blossomedunder full light in a greenhouse and color readings were taken indoorsunder 200 foot candles of cool, white fluorescent light. Colorreferences are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London.

THE PLANT

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium hortorum.

Commercial.--Zonal geranium.

Form: Bush; short; compact; self-branching without pinch.

Height: 19-22 cm.

Growth: Free branching from base; short internodes.

Strength: Stands upright without artificial support.

Foliage: Stalked leaf attachment; no zoning.

Leaves:

Size.--4-7 cm.

Shape.--Reniform.

Margin.--Crenate.

Texture.--Pubescent; waxy.

Color.--Top: Green group 137B. Bottom: Yellow-green group 144B.

Ribs and veins.--Yellow-green group 144C; palmate.

Petioles: 4-8 cm in length; Yellow-green group 144C.

Stem:

Color.--Yellow-green group 144C.

Internodes.--1.0-1.5 cm in length.

THE BUD

Shape: Upright; hemispherical; cluster.

Size: 3-4 cm across.

INFLORESCENCE

Blooming habit: Umbel of 20-30 florets; continuous; hemispherical inshape; semi-double.

Size: 9-11 cm across.

Borne: 3-6 cm above foliage; umbel; florets on pedicel; pedicels onpeduncle.

Florets:

Form.--Round outline 6-9 petals.

Color.--Top: Four petals have purplish eye and veining; color red group40A; eye color red-purple group 67C; reverse 40D red group.

Petals.--2.4-2.6 cm long; 1.4-2.2 cm wide; smooth margin; palmatevenation.

Size.--3.6-4.6 cm long.

Texture and appearance.--Smooth velvet feel; sparkling reflectiveflecks.

Petaloids:

Quantity.--1-4.

Shape.--Irregular.

Color.--Front: Red group 40A. Back: Red group 40D.

Pedical:

Length.--1.5-2.0 cm in length.

Color.--Yellow-green group 145B.

Peduncle: Arise from node opposite leaf petiole; 11-14 cm in length;yellow-green group 144A.

Persistence: Rapid continuous and abundant flowering.

Disease resistance: Moderate resistance to Botrytis flower blight andgood resistance to Botrytis and Alternaria leaf spot.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens anthers: Yellow immature; purplish-brown at maturity.

Filaments: Flat; white at base to bluish red at tip; irregular length.

Pollen: Golden yellow initially; dark brown later.

Pistils:

Number.--1 with 5 part stigma.

Length.--4 mm.

Stigma: 5 lobed red-purple.

Style: Single; short; off-white; 2-3 mm in length.

Ovaries: 5 mm in length; green; very pubescent (0.1-0.5 mm); superior.

Fruit: None observed.

The new cultivar has superb form, abundantly branched from the base andwith compact growth. The soft green, abundant, relatively small leavesare well placed, giving the appearance of dense, vigorous growth. Theplant flowers profusely, with the moderately sized red, violet accentedflowers arranged just above the foliage in a beautifully arrangedbouquet.

The new cultivar has been fingerprinted by Dr. Richard Craig and hisassociates at Penn State University in State College, Pa. Thefingerprinting was conducted on a Waters High Performance LiquidChromatograph equipped with an automatic injection system, dual pumps,solvent programmer, data module, variable wavelength detector, and a C₁₈column. The anthocyanin and flavonol chemical markers utilizing flowerpetals as an adjunct for cultivar identification were determined.

The anthocyanin and flavonol concentrations of petals just afteranthesis of the cultivar Claret florets sampled in April of 1985 arecompared with the cultivar "Glacier Crimson" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,075)and presented below in Tables 1 and 2. Results are based on the averageof multiple tests. It should be noted that changes in environment caninfluence the biosynthesis.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Anthocyanin Concentration                                                     ug anthocyanin 3,5 diglucoside/g fresh wt.                                             Delphi-  Cyan-   Pelar-       Mal- To-                               Cultivar nidin    idin    gonidin                                                                             Peonidin                                                                             vidin                                                                              tal                               ______________________________________                                        CLARET   --       38      1959  1384   83   3464                              XCR - Bruni                                                                            --       78      5251  2418   --   7747                              ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Flavonol Concentration ug/g fresh wt.                                         ______________________________________                                                 Qu3-.sup.z                                                                             Qu3-   Qu3-   Qu3- Km3-  Km3-                               Cultivar rhagal   rut    gal    glu  rhagal                                                                              gal                                ______________________________________                                        CLARET   t        44     --     12   255   38                                 XCR - Bruni                                                                            11       34     --     t    307   47                                 ______________________________________                                                 Km3-    Km3-      Km3-  Km3-                                         Cultivar rut     xyl       arab  rha     Total                                ______________________________________                                        CLARET   1139    t         68    166     1732                                 XCR - Bruni                                                                            1257    13        49    185     1908                                 ______________________________________                                         .sup.z Abbreviations:                                                         Km = Kaempferol;                                                              Qu = Quercetin;                                                               arab = arabinoside;                                                           gal = galactoside;                                                            glu = glucoside;                                                              rha = rhamnoside;                                                             rhagal = rhamnosylgalactoside;                                                rut = rutinoside;                                                             xyl = xyloside.                                                               t = trace < 10 ug.                                                       

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of geranium plant substantiallyas herein shown and described and parts therefor.